Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Cottleville MO

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Cottleville Missouri

Cottleville MO vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Cottleville MO might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Cottleville MO

cat with cone after surgery in Cottleville MO Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Cottleville MO veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Cottleville MO labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Cottleville

student attending online vet tech school in Cottleville MO An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Cottleville MO veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Cottleville MO Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Cottleville MO vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Cottleville MO area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Cottleville MO area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Missouri school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Cottleville MO veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Cottleville MO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Cottleville MO vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Cottleville MO schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Cottleville MO home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Cottleville MO. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Cottleville MO?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Cottleville Missouri area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Cottleville, Missouri

A post office called Cottleville has been in operation since 1843.[6] The town site was laid out in 1839.[7] It was named by Captain Lorenzo Cottle, an early settler and a veteran of the Black Hawk War and Seminole Wars.[8][7]

Cottleville is home to Francis Howell Central High School, Louis C. Saeger Middle School and Warren Elementary School. St. Joseph Catholic School is also located in Cottleville, providing classes for grades K-8; St. Joseph Catholic Church is the largest church by number of parishioners in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. St. Charles Community College is also located nearby.

Cottleville is located at 38°45′7″N 90°39′12″W / 38.75194°N 90.65333°W / 38.75194; -90.65333 (38.751819, -90.653390).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.46 square miles (11.55 km2), all land.[1]

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near Cottleville MO

Cottleville MO vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Cottleville MO.